Taskforce focuses on solution to Tibet issue

September 23, 2008

Suresh Khatta
Chandigarh Newsline

Dharamshala, September 22, 2008 A Three-day meeting of the Task Force on
Negotiations (TFN), set up by the Dalai Lama, began here on Monday. The
taskforce will chalk out a strategy for the next round of talks with the
Chinese authorities, being held to find a mutually-acceptable solution
to the Tibet issue.

The taskforce was established especially to assist the envoys of the
Dalai Lama, who are participating in the talks.

Though the dates for the next round of talks is yet to be fixed, it is
likely to be held in October, as was stated by Kasur Lodi Gyaltsen
Gyari, special envoy of the Dalai Lama.

Prime Minister of the Tibetan government-in-exile Prof Samdhong Rinpoche
said that the taskforce reviewed the outcome of the negations held
earlier with the Chinese authorities. “We will also deliberate that the
issues to be taken up during the eighth round of talks,’’ said Prof
Rionpoche.

Rinpoche said the eighth round of formal discussions between the envoys
of the Dalai Lama and the representatives of the Chinese government will
focus on implementation of national regional autonomy in Tibet, as
stated in the constitution of the People’s Republic of China.

Apart from the Prime Minister, the representative of the Dalai Lama in
New Delhi, Kesang Y. Takla, Minister for the Department of Information
and International Relations of the Tibetan government-in-exile, Kasur
Tashi Wangdi, Envoy Kelsang Gyaltsen, Thubten Samphel, Secretary for
Information, Sonam Dagpo, Secretary for International Relations, Tsewang
Phuntsok and Bhuchung K. Tsering were also present at today’s meeting.

Gyari could not attend the meeting due to some reasons. Ngodup Donchung,
Minister for the Department of Security, Chhime R. Chhoekyapa and
Tsegyam, secretaries to the Dalai Lama, Tenzin Geyche Tethong, former
secretary to the Dalai Lama, were also present at the meeting of the
taskforce.